Motor Milestones

Birth – Physiological Flexion, Full head lag with pull to sit, clears nose from the bed on stomach, Pelvis high with legs flexed, head sags forward in supported sitting, hands fisted yet easily opened

1 month – Moves both arms and legs while on stomach, alternately kicks legs while on back, able to briefly align head with trunk in supported sitting

2 months – Arms more extended and alternately kicking legs while on back, continued head lag with pull to sit, lifts head to 45 degrees, legs “frogged while on stomach but pelvis lower to surface, in supported sitting head bobs erect yet still unable to control trunk

3 months – Elbows inline with shoulders for forearm support while on stomach, Rolls stomach to back with lateral weight shifting, hand to foot play, minimal head lag with pull to sit, midline head alignment in most positions, reach and grasp of rattle emerging

4 months – No head lag with pull to sit, symmetrical posture on back, head in midline in all positions, lifts and holds head at 90 degrees while on stomach, props on elbows with elbows in line with shoulders, legs together in prone, rolls back to side, sit supported with head steady, sitting with support with upper back more extended, takes weight on feet while supported at under arms.

5 months – Weight shifting on stomach to reach with one arm, Brings feet to mouth while on back, gross grasp of toys at midline, briefly able to static ring sit after placed in sitting, pivots on stomach, begins to push back up onto hands and knees

6 months – Plays with feet while on back, Tucks chin and pulls to sit, reaches with bilateral arms, pushes up on extended arms while on stomach, sits independently with hands propped forward, stands with support at hands, sidelying props

7 months – Rocks on hands and knees, transitions from all fours to sitting, rapid rolling, quick sit up with external support, able to static sit and play with a toy, crawls on belly

8 months – Refuses to lie on back, head leads with pull to sit, assumes all fours easily and rocks readily, Sits independently with hands free for play, assumes sitting from stomach, side props in sitting, stands holding on with wide base of support, creeps on hands and knees, controlled release of objects and passes objects hand to hand, begins to pull to stand

9 months – Kneels at a support, creeps rapidly on hands and knees, pulls to stand on objects, drops abruptly to return to sit.

10 months – Creeps very quickly, rotates to reach toys in sitting easily with no loss of balance, side sits, cruises at furniture, lowers to sit on the floor, walks with two hands held, quick transitions in and out of sitting

11 months – Pulls to stand by ½ kneel, bounces in standing,

12 months – Stands alone, Takes first steps with arms held high and a wide base of support, walks with one hand held, smooth descent from standing, rolls a ball away, picks up raisin between thumb and fore finger, transitions floor to stand through ½ kneel without support.

15-16 months – Mid to low arm position during walking, creeps up steps, walks up small steps with support with one foot on each step, builds a tower with 3 cubes, flings ball, takes shoes off, pulls at socks, self feeding with fingers, drinks from cup, indicates if pants are soiled, walks backwards a few steps, stoops and recovers easily, standing from floor, carries objects while walking.

18 months – Carries or pulls an object while walking, creeps down steps, walks up stairs with the rail, turns book pages, scribbles, builds tower with 3-4 cubes, takes off socks, dry for several hours during the day, decreased base of support width of pelvis, 20 word vocabulary

20 months – Walks up steps with step to pattern with one hand support, down stairs with step to pattern with assistance and external support, builds tower of 5-6 cubes, places pellet in bottle, separates pop beads, identifies some body parts, pulls adults to point out objects, begins to consent to sit on potty, running, tries to jump down

24 months – Ascends stairs alone with one foot on each step, Attempts foot over foot with adult support, kicks a small ball, throws a ball overhand five feet, jumps off a low step, builds a tower of 6-7 cubes, turns pages of a book individually, puts on shoes and socks, pulls pants up & down, uses a spoon or fork with little spillage, combines words to phrases, identifies 6 body parts, often wakes dry from naps.

5 years- Jumps forward and sideways, jumps over object 6-8 inches off floor, throws ball to hit target, drawing simple shapes, letters and numbers, vocabulary adequate to communicate well with adults and children in familiar situations, complex play with friends and siblings of same age, can learn to ride two wheel bike and roller skate, tripod grip.